It was a little over a month ago where I had seen some of Holly’s social media posts. I was intrigued to find out more about this person who had so many connections in the craft beer community!
One of the posts was about 2020 being Holly’s ten-year anniversary in the industry. It isn’t often where you find someone who has been able to take part in the massive growth of craft beer and to experience it from so many angles!
For Holly, her story begins over 10 years ago where she had been selling insurance. While the job paid the bills, it wasn’t personally fulfilling. With some available time on weekends, the desire grew to find something that provided purpose and meaning in her career.
Sometimes timing is everything! Holly was listening to the radio when Zac Triemert came on. At that time, Zac was at Lucky Bucket Brewing and was talking about the brewery and some opportunities there such as helping out in the tasting room on weekends.
The interesting part is for much of Holly’s early adult life, she really didn’t like drinking. She told me how the light beers really didn’t have any flavor to her. It wasn’t until being at the Rock Bottom Cafe in downtown Omaha, where the bartender told her about a beer that tasted like grapefruit. Holly had her first IPA and recognized how craft beer could be so different!
Sorry little sidetrack, but important because Holly got the job at Lucky Bucket! When doing tastings, it is important to learn about the flavors of beer and being able to explain that to others. Holy loved learning about the brewing and distilling business Lucky Bucket was doing.
It was within a month or so back in the spring of 2010, where she was presented a full-time position at Lucky Bucket doing sales, marketing, and events. It was goodbye to insurance sales and hello to the world of craft beer!
After Lucky Bucket, Holly was able to be part of starting up Brickway Brewery & Distillery. Holly described all the things she learned. This included a newfound love for artwork during the designing of the logo. Dave Koenig not only did the logo, but has done some amazing labels for Brickway. His paintings and tattoo artistry are incredible!
Building a product line, branding, and so many more experiences for Holly. She told me that now about 5 years into the industry that she had met so many people and was building connections throughout the Omaha area. As Holly put it, “If you can’t make friends in the craft beer industry, then you just can’t make friends.”
The next chapter for Holly would be enlightening. All the time spent so far had been with companies creating the product. Now she would see the business through the eyes of a distributor. Holly took a job with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) not only doing craft beer but also spirits. For someone like Holly, having so many brands made it difficult to really build relationships like the ones she had built through the two breweries.
Holly enjoyed meeting so many good people like Lea Watson at RNDC, but her heart told her it was time to find an opportunity supporting more of the local breweries and took a job at Quality Brands. This new opportunity had Holly covering Gretna to the Old Market and she loved it.
It was a great experience, but overtime territories were realigned along with product lines. After selling for so long, Holly decided to take a break from that.
Earlier, I had mention how Holly at worked with Lea Watson. Lea is now one of the owners at Pint Nine Brewing Company and is the Director of Business Development. Lea reached out to Holly in January this year to see if Holly would be interested in doing the social media for Pint Nine. Holly accepted and has been busy with all the creative posts she has been doing.
So interesting to see all the areas in the craft beer and spirits business that Holly has been involved with. I ask Holly why she thinks the popularity of craft beer continues to grow? Holly told me that at the core it is so much than just drinking, it is about the social interaction. You meet new people all the time and everyone has a story about their favorite beer or drink. It is about celebrating each occasion with friends and family having a beverage that highlights that event.
We talked about the current situation with Coronavirus. Holly voiced her concerns about the huge challenges that craft beer breweries face right now and being able to stay in business. She went on to say that this a time like no other for most people. Social media right now is so important to provide information to everyone and remind them to support local as much as possible.
The last question I asked Holly was about what does the future hold for her in the craft beer industry. Holly had a great list of items she shared with me:
Help women be more comfortable in applying their knowledge of craft beer and spirits. This isn’t the 1900s where it was a male dominated industry. There are so many opportunities.
Have speaking engagements on the history of brewing and distilling.
Continue to learn and focus on some certifications like the Cicerone series for craft beer.
Expand involvement with women organizations like Omaha Girls Pint Out and others.
It was great to meet Holly virtually and to see her passion with building connections in the craft beer industry.
A special thanks to Holly for all the photos!
Thanks Holly for all you do for the Craft Beer industry in Nebraska!